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Monday, 29 April 2013

Band submission. "Wes Mantooth are a couple of rapscallions from New York who play Rod-Serling-Ghost-Punk music. They are in the process of recording their next EP which is titled Von Ghoul. This is a new song that will be released on their website this Saturday entitled Electric Shocks & Flowers. The song was written by Wes Mantooth and engineered/produced by Stephen Kellner."

The song starts off with a very melodic, atmospheric. reverb-heavy guitar and some distant voices (that were most likely sampled from somewhere). It kind of reminds me of Sonic Youth’s “Teen Age Riot”, but with traces of post-rock influence. The same riff continues with distortion and a pumping bass drum kicks in, furthering the “Teen Age Riot” comparison (though I should point out that they are not the same, it just really reminded me of it when I first heard it). Then the whole band jumps in with the bass playing a great, punchy, but melodic part that matches the guitar perfectly before becoming more rhythmic to allow the vocals to take the forefront. The vocals match the energy perfectly. They’re raw and breath-y as one would expect from a punk/garage band, but sometimes drop out to reveal a gentle, melodic side. This contrast is astounding and engaging, since it never seems forced, and all natural. There’s also a great gang vocal chorus that makes you want to sing along, regardless of what you’re doing. The bridge gets real noisy and distant before pulling back in for a final burst of energy. Overall, I was definitely feeling some similarities to bands such as Japandroids or Cloud Nothings. This track is awesome, and I’m certainly looking forward to they’ve got following it, and will definitely be checking out what they’ve done before it.

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

On a completely irrelevant note, I started this blog one year ago today. I'm not quite sure why that's important, since celebrating with Title Fight needs no special occasion. But here they are anyway. Oh, and thanks to Anonymous and Shadman for helping out with this post.

Title Fight are a four-piece band from Kingston, Pennsylvania that formed in 2003, when the band was only about 13 years old. Since then, they've put out a slew of demo's and EP's, as well as two full-lengths in recent years. They've also been endlessly touring with tons of amazing bands, while being an amazing live act themselves. They've definitely become one of pop punk/hardcore's most noteworthy bands around now, and though relatively young, have started to become somewhat influential.

Title Fight are often associated with merging pop-punk and hardcore influences, though they have been incorporating elements of emo and alternative rock recently as well. They've also got some serious 90's nostalgia going on. Basically, what you're left with is a list of diverse, but ultimately tremendous bands to cite as being influences, including Lifetime, Jawbreaker, The Promise Ring, Youth Of Today, Hot Water Music, Kid Dynamite, Hum, Gorilla Biscuits, Brand New, and Knapsack.

They've got an interesting discography, since there's a ton of early stuff that tends to kind of get neglected in regards to their music. It's not radically different (there's certainly a very prominent pop-punk leaning to it in comparison to the new stuff), and not nearly as well produced. A lot of these things are just demos from when the band was in high school or whatever. They then a split (with The Erection Kids, who feature members who would later form Balance And Composure, and two 7"'s. Kingston and The Last Thing You Forget, which is also what the compilation combining these three releases is called. (the 7" alone is missing from the downloads, but the first three tracks on the compilation are the same as the 7", with practically the same artwork). They signed to SideOneDummy and put out two LP's in 2011 (Shed) and 2012 (Floral Green) respectively. They also just did a split with Touché Amoré. In terms of essentials, The Last Thing You Forget, Shed, and Floral Green would be my picks. But it is interesting to listen to the earlier stuff and really hear the progression that they've made, since it's astounding and quite captivating. I almost forgot: I don't have the singles for "Shed" or "Secret Society", which all have b-sides exclusive to those releases (though they're mostly just acoustic versions of their A-side). Besides that, enjoy.

Here's two live radio sets, both from 2009, so they consist entirely of TLTYF songs. The quality on WERS is a bit better than the other, and if I happen to come across more live sets I'll add them too. If you have a live set or something of their's, please send it in.

Thursday, 18 April 2013

Band submission. "Earl Boykins is a newly formed Fuzzwall// Rock n roll// punk band from Purchase, NY. (This is) our new S/T EP recorded by Legendary producer Joe "PigRectum" Leising. Its loud, fast and interesting, check it out. Its out now on Cassette via Chick Records. We are also going on tour this summer to promote it. Or if you enjoy more of the live feel our first ep, live at the cinema, is also on the bandcamp" Oh yes, this is rock n roll. They've definitely got a garage rock vibe to them, coupled with reverb-laden, heavily distorted guitars, pummelling out Ramones-esque chugging and rattling. The energy that they pour out is undeniable. I'm also sensing a very strong influence from The Stooges, which is absolutely fantastic, of course. The vocals are also charismatic enough to warrant a comparison to the great Iggy Pop, though they are much rougher and looser, but still dynamic and melodic. This band definitely knows how to keep things interesting. Check out both of their EP's, they're great and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Band submission. "We are CUTTERS, a messy broke-fi space punk band from Brooklyn/Queens/LI/New Paltz. This is our debut EP entitled Trying Not To Die. It was produced by Cody Torlincasi of Nelsonvillains. It'll come out on cassette via Internet Girlfriend Records later this month." I don't know what a messy broke-fi space punk band usually sounds like, but if this is it, then this shit is good. Really melodic, catchy vocals, but with lyrics that touch upon somewhat personal matters. The guitar is really treble-y, and either jangly or noodle-y at times. The bass and drums are really driving, but naturally messy, as expected. I find that to be true for most of what they do. That lo-fi aspect is always present, but it's not so overdone that it comes off as obnoxious and corny. They've got a nice balance between really upbeat punk songs and melodic chill jams, or something. The music has a personality, which I love. I'm getting some serious Wavves vibes from this, and a hint of Modest Mouse for some reason. I don't know. Whatever it is, check this shit out.

Monday, 15 April 2013

Band submission. Baklavaa are a four-piece noise rock/post-punk/I don't know even know how to label this band from Baltimore, Maryland that formed in 2009. They just put out a new LP titled Spiral Cramp. "It's eight songs consisting mostly of noisy sexually frustrated freak-outs.The instruments were all recorded live in a friend's cabin just outside of the city, vocals recorded in a basement.We worked really hard on these songs and we're trying to get it out to as many people as we can.It is currently only available in digital form but 12" vinyl are in the process of being pressed now." They've got an impressive set of influence citations, including Melvins, Cult Ritual, Majority Rule, Shellac, Arab On Radar, Dinosaur Jr., Ween, and Modest Mouse. They've been called "one of the best things happening in Baltimore punk right now" by their local Baltimore City Paper and "Baltimore's favorite weird post-punk band" by Chug Life (both of which must be huge, albeit deserved, compliments since Baltimore's constantly pumping out a ton of great bands). This is really impressing the hell out of me, so I seriously advise checking it out and sharing this stuff.

Band submission. Lovgun are a "Fast Crust Band, including elements of Punk, Grind, Crust, and Hardcore". It's hard to ignore that description, isn't it? Best of all, they live up to it. They're from Lyon, France, and are a part of the Dirty Seven Conspiracy (a label). They are major advocates of the DIY scene, and share members with Warfuck, Obnoxious, Belladone, Anoia, and Crampest. They put out their first LP last year, titled Bisou. 11 pulverising songs in 11 pulverising minutes, what more do you need? Enjoy, and they "hope your ears will bleed a little bit :)"

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

American Nightmare (they later changed their name to Give Up The Ghost due to legal issues with another band of the same name) were a hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in 1998. They put out one full-length and numerous EP's under their original name, and in 2003 changed their name and put out another full-length among other things, all on various great labels (Bridge 9, Equal Vision). They broke up in 2004, though have since done reunion shows in 2011 and 2012, and are scheduled to play more in 2013 (one of which is in Toronto, fuck yes). There's a very well-written and detailed biography of the band on Deathwish's site, written by Jacob Bannon himself. I'd suggest checking that out here.

AN/GUTG are one of the most noteable and influential hardcore bands ever, I'd go as far as to say. A particularly interesting thing I find about them is that they don't fall victim to any of hardcore's pigeonholes. They don't sound like they're replicating anything, but are still obviously rooted in punk. Early hardcore influence is certainly prominent, but instead of sounding like a throwback band, they manage to push it forward by taking everything that characterised it (speed, passion, intensity) and raise the bar to a whole new level. All the while they manage to incorporate some melodic tendencies, and perhaps some post-hardcore leanings. They are a sheer pummelling force, but with an emotional underbelly which prevents them from ever coming off as contrived. I don't know what else needs to be said. Enjoy what these legends have given us.

A few notes on their discography: Everything they released under "American Nightmare" is titled as such, with the original artwork to match (a few things have been re-issued to fit their new name). Everything they did as "Give Up The Ghost" is left as that, except for Year One,which was released after the name change, though is a compilation of material they did under the original name (the self-titled, The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter, and other miscellaneous tracks). I'm missing a live 7" they did in London, so if anyone has that, you know what to do and how much I'll love you.

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Paul Baribeau is a folk-punk singer/songwriter from Michigan, though currently living in Indiana, and part of both the Plan-It-X and No Idea Records families. He keeps things sweet, simple, and honest. What more could you ask for? His songs are all about something related to his life, which he conveys in a very relateable and modest way. That's something that I particularly like about him. The songs he writes are awesome, yet never lose the down-to-earth aesthetic of some guy strumming and shouting in his bedroom. Which they kind of literally are. Here's what I think is everything he's put out so far. I'm not certain that I have all the years right, and there are some things that I couldn't find any artwork for. I also can't find the Your Heart Breaks track from his split with them. Any help with any of these things would be appreciated. Enjoy everything else, though:

This is band-submitted. Get into it, share it, this is really good stuff. "We're Belladone 'put a frightening word here' Duo from Lyon, France and we play a kind of Hot & Cold music. Everything is written in French and our sound includes elements of Crust, Screamo, Punk and Black Metal stuff, we released our first effort 'Ophiuchus' and we're actually ready to record 4 new songs in the next weeks." Members are also in Lovgun.

Tuesday, 2 April 2013

So, apparently Modern Life Is War are getting back together and have got a new record coming later this year. If that's true, then FUCK YES. It is here, they are back, and oh my, is it glorious.

These guys were/are a five-piece (melodic) hardcore band from Marshalltown, Iowa that formed in 2002 and disbanded in 2008. From what's been coming out, they've been working on new material since 2012, but only officially announced their reunion yesterday. During the band's initial active years, they worked relentlessly, touring endlessly and pumping out three amazing full-lengths, put out by great labels including Deathwish and Equal Vision, and an awesome EP, which they very proudly put out themselves. They also put out a live split with Kill Your Idols. They had some serious internal issues apparently, and they had to replace a guitarist and their bassist for their final LP before breaking up entirely. I don't mean to mar their image though. They are an amazing band. Personally, they're a contender for my favourite hardcore band, regardless of decade or era. I don't know even know how to begin describing their sound, since they're more of an experience rather than a sound, as pretenious as that may seem. Jeff Eaton is one of my favourite lyricists and singers ever. He writes these calls to arms and observations that match the anthematic, passionate sound of the band without ever coming across as overbearing or preachy. What he talks about and the way he talks about it are done in a way that everyone can relate to, regardless of what they're into. They're very telling, and equally inspiring. The entire band created amazing music without ever falling victim to trends or clichés, and always elevating the bar on what music and people can accomplish, which only leaves me with the utmost excitement as to what they'll do now that they're back. "So what the fuck are you going to do, kid?" You're going to get into Modern Life Is War.

A Stubborn Reminder...

Please remember, not everything on here is supposed to be free. Enjoy to your heart's content, but if you can, please try and support these bands by purchasing records, going to shows, buying merch, anything if at all possible. Most of them could really use (and deserve) it.